Decorative shutter construction



June 1967 R. H. UNDERDAHL 3,324,785

DECORAT I VE SHUTTER CONSTRUCT ION Filed Feb. 21, 1966 H0. 1 /3 /7 FIG. 2 /3 FIG. 5 1:19 -/8 /9 24 0 k a A l I 28 M INVENTOK /4 Z4 RUSSELL H UNDERDAHL BY @ma m AT TORNEYS United States Patent O 3,324,785 DECORATIVE SHU'I'I'ER CONSTRUCTION Russell H. Underdahl, 2710 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. 55408 Filed Feb. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 528,887 2 Claims. (Cl. 98-121) My invention relates generally to the shutter art, and more particularly to decorative shutters of the movable louver type. Still more particularly, my invention relates to vertically elongated panels having frames which define openings which are partially opened and completely closed by a plurality of cooperating horizontally disposed vertically spaced shutter elements.

The frames of shutters of the above type are conventionally formed from rectangular frame elements, and consequently have limited decorative value. The reason for this is that the upper edge of the uppermost louver element must overlap the lower edge, or, alternatively, come into abutting engagement with the lower edge of the upper frame element during final closing movements of the plurality of louver elements, in order to effect a complete closure of the central opening defined by the frame.

The primary object of my invention is to provide, through a novel mechanical arrangement of parts, a shutter panel of the type above described which has greater decorative appeal than louver-equipped panels of the type heretofore produced.

A further object of my invent-ion is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described which, within limitations, makes possible decorative panels of specifically different design and appearance.

More specifically, the object of my invention is to so design and construct the top end frame member so that the lower edge thereof may be formed to define upwardly projecting downwardly opening arches of various designs, and in which the rear portion of the upper end frame member is transversely rabbetted between the side frame members to provide a recess which extends from the extreme lower edge thereof to a point above the arch for the reception of fixed louver means which are partially visible through the arch and which cooperate with the uppermost of the movable louver elements to completely close the opening defined by the frame, including the arch,

'when the movable louver elements are moved to a closed position.

The above and still further highly desirable objects will become apparent when taken in consideration with the following detailed specification, attached drawings, and appended claims.

With reference to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a shutter constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in rear elevation, portions thereof broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in top plan thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view, on an enlarged scale, in horizontal section as seen from the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view as seen from the line 55 of FIG. 3, on an enlarged scale.

In accordance with the above-described objects I provide a decorative shutter construction indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. Shut-ter is comprised of a generally rectangular frame 11 which includes a pair of laterally spaced, vertically disposed, elongated side frame elements 12. Connecting the opposite ends of the frame elements together are upper and lower end frame elements 13, 14 which cooperate with the side frame elements 12 to define a central opening 15.

For a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent the upper frame element 13, along its forward edge intermediate the'side frame element 12, is formed to define an upwardly projecting, downwardly opening arch 16. Arch 16, as shown in FIG. 1, is of the Gothic type, but may be formed to assume the shape of any other type arc-h one may desire. With reference to FIG. 5 it will be seen that arch 16 is' of a depth materially less than the thickness of the upper end frame element 13 and permits the rear face 1 7 of end frame element 13 to be rabhetted to form a recess 18 which extends between the side frame elements 12. It will be noted that recess 18 has a height which is greater than the maximum height of the arch '16.

Fixed louver means in the nature of a pair of simulated louver elements 19, 20 are'fixedly mounted within the recess in such a manner as to spanthe arch 16 and be visible, in part, therethrough. The upper extremity or edge 19a of louver element 19 projects above the upper extremity of the arch 16' while the lower extremity or edge 20a of louver element 20 projects below the lowermost edge of the upper end flame element 13. The adjacent edges 19b, 20b are in overlapping arrangement and together with the positioning of edges 19a, 20a permits fixed louvers 19, 20 to completely close the opening through the arch 16 with lower edge 20a of louver 20 providing a straight edge immediately below the lowermost portion or edge of arch '16.

A plurality of movable louver elements 21 are positioned within the opening 15 in a vertically spaced, horizontally disposed arrangement and are mounted for rotational movements on horizontal axes by means of trunnion elements 22 which project from opposite ends of each thereof and which are received in cooperating apertures 23 formed in opposed faces 12a of side frame elements 12. Apertures 23 are spaced apart a distance suflicient to cause the louvers 21 to assume an overlapping engagement with adjacent ones thereof when same are in fully closed position, shown in FIG. 5. It will be noted with further reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, that the upper edge 22 of the uppermost louver element 21a overlaps the lower edge 20a of fixed louver element 20. Also, the upper edge of the lower end frame element 14 is rabbetted or grooved, as at 24, to receive the lower edge 25 of the lowermost louver element 21a. Thus, it will be seen, by reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, that the opening 15 may be completely closed by the louver elements 21 while providing an extremely decorative and pleasing appearance to the shutter 10 through the medium of the arched upper end frame elements 1 3.

For the purpose of imparting simultaneous opening and closing movements to the louver elements 21 there is provided a control link 26. Control link 26 is pivotally connected to each of the movable louver elements 21 by means of a plurality of cooperating pairs of interlocking staples 27, 28, the former of which is secured to the upper edge 21c of each of the louvers 2 1, and the latter of which is secured to the adjacent inner face 26a of control link 26. It will be noted that the upper extremity 26b of control link 26 overlies a portion of fixed louver 20 and projects upwardly beyond the lowermost edge of the upper end frame element 13 when the movable louver elements 21 are in their closed position of FIGS. 1 and 5. Thus the arch 16, besides adding decorative appearance to the shutter 10, provides adequate clearance for the upper extremity 26b of control link 26 to permit same to fully close the louver elements 21.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects, and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to he understood that same laterally spaced vertically disposed elongated sideframeelements and upper and lower connecting end;

frame elements which define'acentral Opening; (b) saidupper end frame element'along its forward lower edge beingformedintermediate said side 'frame elements to definean upwardly projecting downwardly opening arch which has a 'depthmaterially less than the thickness-ofsaid upper end: frame 618-? ment, (c) said upper frame-element being rabbetted adjacent itsrear face to define a recess which :extends between said-side frame-elements-and which has aheight greater than the maximum height of said arch, (d) simulated fixed louver means within therabbetted recess and spanning said'arch soas to be visible in' part therethrough with the horizontally disposed:

lower extremity thereof projectingtbelow the lowermost edge-of said-upper end-frame element'and the upperextremity thereof projecting aboves'aid arch,-

(e) and a -plurality of vertically spacedmovable louver' elements'extendingbetween said side frame ole-- ments and journalled for limited pivotal movements therebetween;

(f) adjacent ones of said movable louver elements overlapping each other with the uppermost one thereof overlapping said lower extremity of said fixed louverelement when all'thereofare in a closed position.

2. The structure definedin claim lain further combination with a-control link pivotally connec'ted'to each of said movable louver elements and adapted to simultaneously impart said limited pivotal movements thereto from a position wherein'the central opening defined by said frame :elements' is partiallyopen to a position wherein said openin g is closedwiththe upper extremity of said control link overlying a portionof said fixed louver means and projectingvupwardlybeyond the lowermost edge of said u'ppersconnecting end frame -elernent.

ReferencescCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,761,185 9/1956 Sherwood 49 74 3,284,951 11/1966 Shapiro 981'10 X ROBERT A; OLE'ARY, Primary Examiner.

M. ANTONAK-AS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. SHUTTER CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING: (A) A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED VERTICALLY DISPOSED ELONGATED SIDE FRAME ELEMENTS AND UPPER AND LOWER CONNECTING END FRAME ELEMENTS WHICH DEFINE A CENTRAL OPENING (B) SAID UPPER END FRAME ELEMENT ALONG ITS FORWARD LOWER EDGE BEING FORMED INTERMEDIATE SAID SIDE FRAME ELEMENTS TO DEFINE AN UPWARDLY PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY OPENING ARCH WHICH HAS A DEPTH MATERIALLY LES THAN THE THICKNESS OF SAID UPPER END FRAME ELEMENT, (C) SAID UPPER FRAME ELEMENT BEING RABBETTED ADJACENT ITS REAR FACE TO DEFINE A RECESS WHICH EXTENDS BETWEEN SAID SIDE FRAME ELEMENTS AND WHICH HAS A HEIGHT GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF SAID ARCH, (D) SIMULATED FIXED LOUVER MEANS WITHIN THE RABBETTED RECESS AND SPANNING SAID ARCH SO AS TO BE VISIBLE IN PART THERETHROUGH WITH THE HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED LOWER EXTREMITY THEREOF PROJECTING BELOW THE LOWERMOST EDGE OF SAID UPPER END FRAME ELEMENT AND THE UPPER EXTREMITY THEREOF PROJECTING ABOVE SAID ARCH, (E) AND A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED MOVABLE LOUVER ELEMENTS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE FRAME ELEMENTS AND JOURNALLED FOR LIMITED PIVOTAL MOVEMENTS THEREBETWEEN, (F) ADJACENT ONES OF SAID MOVABLE LOUVER ELEMENTS OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER WITH THE UPPERMOST ONE THEREOF OVERLAPPING SAID LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID FIXED LOUVER ELEMENT WHEN ALL THEREOF ARE IN A CLOSED POSITION. 